Life in the Bush

Dear Family and Friends,
   Our time at Makumira is quickly winding down, but fortunately we were able to experience more of the unique culture once again before we return home. Makumira is hosting a Glomus Seminar (an international consortium for music education) and we are housing some of the participants.  Yesterday, along with the seminar participants, we attended a Maasai lunch out in the bush at the Oldonyou Sambu bomas. Hard to believe that people today in 2013 actually live in these structures made out of sticks, mud, and cow dung.  They hang their clothes to dry on the nearby bush, and cook over stones.  Their bathroom is the great outdoors, and they share their space with the livestock they care for daily.  They are one with the land and nature in every sense of the word.  It's easy to romaticize the Maasai, but in truth, their way of life that they struggle to maintain still practices male and female circumcision, polygamy, limited education for most of the children, high rates of infant mortality, ancestor worship, and the list goes on.  Having said that, the Maasai still have a culture rich in traditions of looking to nature for healing remedies, a rich and creative oral passing on of their history, a oneness with Nature that we can all learn from, and a deep respect for the elderly and for God as they know Him thru nature.
  I've included pictures that Tim took,as well as a short video of a Maasai choir (Loruvani Choir) from a Maasai Lutheran Church. They help to maintain their culture and share that culture with others through their singing and dancing.  Our delightful houseguest, Inhwa So from South Korea, took the video.
   Enjoy!
      Tim & Diane